Snap switch



Jan. 26,1926. v V 1,570,913

. j C. L. MOYER sm1= SWITCH FiledOctQ 23, 1924 2 shun-shut 2 flm/aiz,WZgew Jan. 26 1926. 1,570,913

c. L. MOYER SNAP'SWITCH Filed Oct. 25, 1924 2 Shah-Shoot 1 x54 LE4, 6

jaeizi r v6 UMP/65E W Patented Jan. 26, 1926.

CHARLES L. MOYER, OI CH ICAGO, HJIIINOIYS- SNAP SWITCH.

Application filed October 23, 1924. Serial No. 745,377.

To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. Moran, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in. Snap Switches, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to snap switches and is designed primarily for usein flat irons such as are shown for example in the application of JosephN. Pagliarul filed on the 23rd day of October, 1924, Serial No. 745,376.The object of my invention is to provide for a tool of that character aswitch which will operate with a snap action. It is also my purpose toprovide a switch of that character in whichthe circuit closing elementsare biased toward open or off position and will automatically return tosuch position when the pressure upon the controlling'element isreleased.

I obtain my objects'by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in which Figure 1 is a general view of a flat iron showing themanner in which my invention may be applied to it.

Figure 2 is a view showing the inner side of the two-part body in whichmy form of switch is mounted.

Figure 3 is similar to the left portion of Figure 2 except that it showsthe switch in on position instead of ofi position as in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the irregular line 55 Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a sectionalyiew on the irregularline 66 Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a distributed view showing the principal parts of my switchgrouped but separated 1n such manner as to indicate the way in whichthey cooperate when assembled.

Like numerals denote like parts through levers.

19 made of suitable insulating material. The lower portion 20 of thebody constitutes a plug which makes a sliding fit with the socket 14.The body is provided with terminal clips 22 arranged in two pairs formaking engagement with the'terminal pins 16. One of these clips isconnected by conductor 24 to one of the external supply conductors 26.The other is connected by a conductor 28 to switch jaws 30. A switchblade 32 moves intoand out of engagement with the jaws 30. It is pivotedon a stationary pin 34 as shown in perspective in Figure 7. This switchblade is provided with lugs 36 projecting sidewise from it to be engagedby a lever 38 which is also pivoted upon pin 34 and is shackled by meansof a shacklchead 41 to a rod 39 slidingly mounted in a lug40 projectingfrom the side of a stationary bar 42. Said bar is con nccted byconductor 44 to one of the external supply conductors 46. A compressionspring 48 is interposed between the lug 40 and the shacklehead 41, andthis tends to press the rod toward the pivot pin 34 which tends to tiltthe lever 38 to one oblique position or another, depending upon whichside of the straight line the lever happens to be 1 ing on at themoment. In other words, the spring 48 tends .to hold the lever, 38 pastcenter with the result that a sudden movement will be imparted to lever38 if and when pressure is exerted upon the shacklehead 41 in adirection crosswise of rod 39. This imparts a snap action to lever 38and to switch blade 32.

This crosswise or transverse pressure is exerted upon the 'shacklehead41 by a plunger or push button 50 which is slidingly mounted in the bodyof the device. Said plunger is supported upon a compression sprin 52which is strong enough to force the siacklehead past center in adirection to keep the switch blade 32 out of engagement with the switchjaws 30. Thus if the push button is released at any time it will bestrong enough to move the switch from on to off position. v

It will be evident that my switch has some of the characteristics of atoggle in which the plunger 50 corresponds to the pitman and thelever 38and rod 39, which are piv otcd together, correspond to the toggle Mswitch might therefore be termed a' toggle switch.

A hand lever 54 is pivoted to the main jaws 30. As soon as the pushbutton is re leased, however, the spring 52 will return the plunger tonormal position, which will throw the switch blade to oti position. Thusthe switch operates with the desirable quick make and break action, butthe switch will be on only so long as the plunger is under pressure andwill be immediately returned to open position as soon as the pres- 7sure on the plunger is released.

It will be observed that there is considerable play or lost motionbetween the lever 38 and the lugs 36 with which it cooperates. Thisincreases the suddenness with which the switch blade 32 operates. Italso decreases the force necessary to operate the plunger 50 for thelever 38 is not carrying any load, so to speak, during the first portionof its movement toward changed position. During the initial portion ofthe movement the lever is free to move without moving a switch blade,and while the movement of the lever is being completed it has theassistance of the compression spring 48 surrounding rod 39.

The operation has now been described in detail. It will be evident thatthe switch blade 32 will be normally held out of engagement with itscooperating jaws 30, but that as soon as the operator grasps the handleof the tool the lever 54 will be depressed and the switch blade 32 willmove with a snap action into engagement with the jaws 30. A slightupward movement of the lever will have no eiiect to disturb the switchblade, and hence moderate movements may take place without opening thecircuit. However, if the operator lets go of the tool the spring 52 willcause the plunger 50 to rise and promptly break the circuit.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A snap switch having a switch blade,

a toggle-like couple for operating it, said couple comprising twomembers pivoted together and pivotally supported, a spring acting uponone of said members in alinement therewith for breaking the toggle whenthe latter is forced beyond center in either di rection, and a plungersiidable transversely to said couple and adapted to engage it near theconnected portion thereof for moving it past center.

2. A snap switch having a Switchblade, a toggle-like couple foroperating it, said couple comprising two members pivoted together andpivotally supported, a spring acting upon one of said members inalinement therewith for breaking the toggle when the latter is forcedbeyond center in either direction, a plunger slidable transversely tosaid couple and having a recess in the side for accomodating the centralpor tion of the couple for moving it past center in both directions.

3. In a snap switch a switch blade, a lever for operating it, a rodconnected to the lever at a point remote from the lever pivot, said rodbeing movably supported at a point remote from its point ot'connectionto the lever whereby the lever and rod form two elements of atoggle-like couple, a spring associated with said couple for urging thesame past can ter in either direction as soon as center position ispassed, and a plunger slidable transversely to said couple and adaptedto engage said couple at the connected portion thereof for moving itpast center.

4. In a snap switch a switch blade, a lever for operating it, a rodconnected to the lever at a point remote from the lever pivot, said rodbeing movably supported at a point remote from its point of connectionto the lever whereby the lever and rod form two elements of atoggle-like couple, a. spring associated with said couple for urging thesame past center in either direction as soon as center position ispassed, a plunger slidable transversely to said couple for moving itpast center, and a spring operative upon said plunger to normally holdthe latter and switch blade in off position.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto sub scribed my name. 2

CHARLES L. MOYER.

